This week, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it will shift much of the department's work to other federal agencies, in a move to fulfill the President’s plan to allocate education to the states. Disability Rights California (DRC) believes it is unwise and reckless to dismantle a coordinated system and expect it to provide the same level of protection, monitoring, student support, and educator support.

Title I moving to Labor, Indian Education shifting to Interior, and the Office of Special Education seemingly left in place for now, pulls apart system components that were designed to work together. Students don’t live in silos. Their needs are interconnected, especially for low-income students of color with disabilities.

These changes by the current administration weaken the foundation that holds state and local schools accountable to students. The Department of Education provides legal oversight and civil rights enforcement and holds decades of institutional knowledge in its valuable staff who understand how these programs work together.

Students with disabilities, Native students and other students of color, and low-income students, particularly those who sit at these intersections, will bear the brunt of this decision. DRC stands firmly against any move that undermines federal responsibility for equitable education. Our students deserve better than a fragmented system.

Media Contact

Sam Mickens
Director of Communications
(646) 945-0918
Sam.Mickens@disabilityrightsca.org

Disability Rights California (DRC) – Is the agency designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the rights of Californians with disabilities. The mission of DRC is to defend, advance, and strengthen the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities.